Ask a Fool: Lighting a Fire Under Big Tobacco

In the following video, Motley Fool analyst Charly Travers takes a question from a Fool reader, who asks, "Now that marijuana is starting to become legalized with some of the states, I believe that eventually the federal government will legalize marijuana also. If it becomes federally legalized, then I believe the tobacco companies like Altria, Philip Morris and Reynolds American , and so on will start to get into this also because they already have the infrastructure and capital to produce and distribute tobacco. So my question is would it be a good idea to begin speculatively investing in American tobacco companies soon so to capitalize on the potential of the marijuana industry later?"

Tobacco companies have been under siege in the U.S. for decades, as waves of litigation, regulation, and anti-smoking campaigns have given the industry a black eye. Yet Philip Morris International focuses on overseas markets, where business prospects generally look brighter. Investors have been happy with its stock's performance, but is Philip Morris still a buy? Find out in The Motley Fool's premium research report on the company, which includes in-depth analysis of its opportunities and challenges ahead. To claim your report, along with a year's worth of analyst updates as key news develops, just click here now.